5 Ways to Teach Your Children the Importance of Tzedakah : News

The Jewish tradition of Tzedakah teaches the fundamentals of sharing. Anchored by tradition and deep-rooted spirituality, pious Jewish families pass on the values of Tzedakah generation after generation. Judaism makes it an obligation to donate a portion of the income to charitable causes. The tradition of giving is not out of pity for the less fortunate but is rooted in the firm belief of doing justice. It’s about sharing the world’s resources with people who have limited means.

The success of Tzedakah depends solely on the ability of Jewish parents to pass on the principles to their children. When it comes to embedding the importance of sharing telling a child what to do is nearly not enough. Think about it. Sharing is one of those core values that meticulously get taught in schools to children of all religious backgrounds. However, somewhere along the road of growing up the importance of sharing takes a backseat and makes room for other priorities. This is precisely why parents need to lead by example and make Tzedakah their family tradition. Here’re 5 things you need to do teach your kids the importance of Tzedakah.

Children often mimic their parents’ behaviour in the early stages of their life. Later on in life, these mimicries unknowingly turn into a habit. This is why it’s important for you as a parent to follow strictly the principles of Tzedakah. It’s also crucial to have extensive discussions with the children whenever they enquire about Tzedakah. Children are born with a loving heart and they are eager to do good deeds. The simple joy helping a person in need and watching their parents do the same will encourage them to follow this beautiful tradition for the rest of their lives.

Children respond really well to positive reinforcement. This is why their acts of generosity should not go unappreciated. Ask them to pick up some canned food whenever you are in the store. Encourage them to give the food to someone in need and then appreciate their gesture. Over the years, the habit of sharing and giving Tzedakah will become a second nature to them.

The most effective way to get your children excited about Tzedakah is by helping them build their own Tzedakah box. Help them create a box and allow them to embellish it with beads and other decorative items. The act of building the box will help develop a sense of responsibility towards saving money for Tzedakah. Once the box is crafted, the entire family can put money in it which could later be donated to charitable causes.

To make your children feel more involved talk to them openly about how the money they donate is helping people in need. A transparent discussion about Tzedakah will make them feel empowered and encourage them to save more. Once a substantial fund is accumulated in the Tzedakah box have a family discussion about how to distribute the money. You can also discuss how to choose a good Jewish charity.

Apart from the joy of providing help to the needy, Tzedakah can also be turned into a fun family activity. From dropping a few coins every night after dinner into the Tzedakah box to volunteering as a family, this great tradition can take on many forms. You can also buy children’s books on Tzedakah and read out interesting stories to the entire family.